SPILL publishes political parody built on a real factual launchpad. Accuracy applies to the launchpad. Absurdity applies to what we build on top of it.
REAL EVENT FIRST
A new satire story must begin with an identifiable real-world political event supported by source reporting. We do not invent the underlying election result, court action, government announcement, public statement or other factual trigger just to make a joke work.
FICTIONAL ESCALATION
The comedic premise, invented scenes, dialogue, programs, offices, products, rules and other absurd developments in a SPILL parody are fictional unless the story or linked reporting makes clear that they are real. Satire should not be presented as a literal account of events.
HEADLINES THAT WORK
Headlines should make the comedic premise understandable on their own, avoid repetitive formulas and stay connected to the real event underneath the joke. SPILL aims for surprise, specificity and a premise worth sharing rather than manufactured outrage or filler.
POLITICAL TARGETS
No party or public official is categorically protected from parody, and SPILL does not manufacture stories merely to create partisan balance. Editorial selection is driven by the strength of the real event and the comedic premise.
CORRECTIONS
If SPILL gets the factual launchpad, attribution or source description materially wrong, we want to correct it. Fictional elements that are plainly part of the parody are not factual claims requiring correction.